WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Interests in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the
progress of this system.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
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At 1100 PM AST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located
near latitude 19.1 North, longitude 40.5 West. Irma is moving toward
the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the west-southwest
is expected on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher
gusts. Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in strength, up or down, are
possible during the next few days, but Irma is expected to remain a
powerful hurricane through the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles
(110 km).